Osteopontin Specific Antibodies and Methods of Use Thereof

Abstract

Monoclonal antibodies immunospecific for osteopontin are disclosed. Also provided are therapeutic methods of use thereof for modulating osteopontin levels for the treatment of autoimmune disorders.

1 . A method for producing osteopontin-specific antibodies, comprising:
 a) immunizing an osteopontin knock out mouse with an immunogenic amount of osteopontin or fragments thereof;   b) harvesting serum from said mouse; and   c) screening said serum for antibodies immunoreactive to osteopontin.   
     
     
         2 . An antibody preparation produced by the method of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         3 . A method for producing osteopontin-specific antibodies, comprising:
 a) immunizing an osteopontin knock out mouse with an immunogenic amount of osteopontin or fragments thereof;   b) harvesting the spleen of said mouse and fusing said spleen cells with a myeloma cell line containing a mutation to facilitate isolation of fused spleen/myeloma cells;   c) culturing said fused cells in media containing a selection agent; and   d) screening said media for the presence of antibodies immunoreactive to osteopontin.   
     
     
         4 . A monoclonal antibody produced by the method of claim  14  and shown in  FIG. 29 . 
     
     
         5 . An osteopontin specific monoclonal antibody which recognizes at least one epitope shown in  FIG. 29 . 
     
     
         6 . An anti-human osteopontin antibody selected from the group consisting of 42B12, 23F4, 45B5, 2D4, 2D6, 5A4, 7E3,23F1, 23F4, 10H4, 5A4, 7B4, 42B12 and 10F6. 
     
     
         7 . A method for modulating autoimmune disease in a patient in need thereof, comprising administration of an effective amount of a monoclonal antibody immunologically specific for osteopontin. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein said antibody recognizes the amino terminus of osteopontin. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein said autoimmune disease is selected from the group consisting of multiple sclerosis, adjuvant-induced arthritis, eosinophila myalgia syndrome and systemic lupus erythematosous. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein said autoimmune disease is multiple sclerosis. 
     
     
         11 . A method for modulating corticosteroid levels in a patient in need thereof, comprising administration of an effective amount of the monoclonal antibody of  claim 5 .